infocom/interpreters/zip/zipgs.readme

This is a port of ZIP 2.0 by Mark Howell to the Apple IIGS. The port was done
by Matt Ackeret (unknown@guest.apple.com or unknown@apple.com).  Please contact
me, Matt Ackeret, with any problems you encounter in using the program.

This program is an interpreter for the Zcode virtual instruction set used
by Infocom for their interactive fiction text adventure games and for games
produced with the Inform freeware compiler.  This interpreter works with
version 1 through 5 games.

Also included with this archive is an older version of one of the freeware
Zcode games, "curses".  (The file is named "oldcurses.z3", the extention
".z3" signifying that it is a game using version 3 of the Zcode format.
There is a file on ftp.gmd.de in the if-archive/ area describing the Zcode
format at a technical level.)  I am including an "older version" because the
newer version is showing some cosmetic bugs (as described further below)..  
You can download the newer version and use it with this program, it just won't
look perfectly.  I hope to fix some of the problems soon.

This interpreter can be used with the game files from the two "Lost Treasures 
of Infocom" sets available.  Big Red Computer Club (their address is given
at the end of this file) sells a version of Lost Treasures of Infocom I for
the GS, though you can use the data files from any version (since they are
identical).  The HFS and MSDOS FSTs will allow you to get the data files from
the Mac and IBM versions of LTOI.  That is, you can buy another computer's
"version" and use the datafiles on your GS.  For example, I own the CDROM 
version of Lost Treasures of Infocom II (marketed for Macs and IBMs) and use
the data files with my port of ZIP on my GS.

As well as the "Lost Treasures of Infocom" games, there is a freeware 
compiler called Inform which allows one to write NEW interactive fiction
games that are output in the same Zcode format, thus usable with any 
interpreter that works with the Infocom games.  There are several games
available on ftp.gmd.de, the official ftp site for Interactive Fiction stuff.
Also check out the rec.arts.int-fiction and rec.games.int-fiction newsgroups.
There may also be a GS port of Inform so you can write new games on that ftp
site. If not, porting it with Orca/C is a painless process (I ported a much
earlier version).

What my port of ZIP supports ---

	o) Versions 1 through 5 games. (Most of the Infocom games are version 
		3, a few are version 5.)   There are a few version 6 games,
		such as Zork Zero, and a few "extra" games included on the
		LTOI (Lost Treasures of Infocom) II CD.  These games are
		combination graphical/text and are far less 
		computer-independent than the fully text games are.  However,
		it looks as if ZIP may be upgraded to support version 6 games
		too, and I will likely upgrade my GS port to support version 6
		games at that point.
	o) Extended keyboards -- In the games that allow the use of 
		function keys (ewww), I support function keys.  Command-1
		through Command-0 (aka openapple-1 through openapple-0) also
		work.  Function keys are used in Beyond Zork, for example,
		for frequently used commands.  Check out your documentation
		to see how to redefine the function keys.


Limitations in the current version of my port --

	o) The timeout mechanism, used in Border Zone, is not supported.
You can still play the game, but it never "times out" the entering of commands,
like it should.  Since this timeout feature was only used in one game as far 
as I know, it's not been too high on my list.

	o) Some of the games that do more extensive cursor repositioning don't
seem to always work.  That is, there are some cosmetic problems in playing
Beyond Zork with this version of ZIP.  It is still playable, but it does not
look perfect.  Hopefully this will be fixed.  Please report bugs of this type
to me (unknown@guest.apple.com or unknown@apple.com).

	o) I was hoping to make this interpreter launchable from EITHER the
Finder (or another graphical-launcher) or a shell.  I haven't finished my
customizations for the former, so it's only a shell utility currently.  In
future version(s), if you launch it from the Finder, then Standard File will
be used for all requests to get/put files... Simply changing the filetype
will allow running it from either environment.  As I said, this is NOT here yet.

	If anyone is interested in getting the source code and making
improvements and/or fixes, please contact me.  Eventually the code will be
integrated into the main ZIP distribution set, but that integration hasn't
happened yet.

	Version history:
	
	1.0a1  November 27, 1994

		I have had the interpreter at its current level of
functionality for many months, intending to "get around" to implementing more
features.  I intended to add the Finder/shell dual launchability this weekend
and added some code for this feature.  Then I didn't feel well for a few days
of this long Thanksgiving weekend..  I thought that releasing it at its current
state would be better than keeping it hidden longer.  It is definitely very
usable at this point.  I've been using it to play Moonmist and other LTOI 
games for a while.

	Why am I calling this version "1.0a1"?  Simply because it's my first
public release and is not 100% finished.  "Beta" is used to signify all 
features implemented, but bugs still existing.  When the dual-launching
functionality and timeout capability is added, I'll bump it to beta, then
increment the minor version number on subsequent releases.

	Again, please contact me, Matt Ackeret (unknown@guest.apple.com
unknown@apple.com) with any suggestions or descriptions of problems you have
with this program.

---- end of main document ----
Here is the contact information for the Big Red Computer Club.  I have no
affiliation with them except as a customer.  They have tons of good Apple II
software that used to be sold by other companies, as well as some programs
they've published themselves.  One note for fans of older games is that they
have all of the AtariSoft games available for $5 each.  Great deal!

        Big Red Computer Club
        423 Norfolk Ave,
        Norfolk, NE
        68701
(402) 379 4680